FitSugar

Sun Poisoning: Even Worse Than Sunburn

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:03:11 PDT

Whether you skipped the sunscreen because you wanted a tan, or you actually wore it but forgot to reapply, now you're left with an awful sunburn. As you take a closer look, you notice parts of your skin appear blistery, and slightly yellowish in color. That's not just a sunburn, it's sun poisoning, and it's even more damaging to your skin. Not only does it cause a painful rash, but symptoms also include fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, chills, and headaches. The area may swell and the blisters can open and lead to infection.

Sun poisoning is your skin's reaction to UV rays, and just like an irritating sunburn, the rash usually results in itchy, peeling skin, but eventually goes away on its own within 10 days. That's good to hear, but there's bad news too. To hear it,

read more. The more extreme UV exposure your skin gets, the more your skin is damaged, and the bigger your risk is for developing skin cancer. So you want to prevent sunburns and sun poisoning at all costs. Make sure to avoid long hours in sunlight, especially from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Always slather yourself with broad spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 15 or higher whenever outside. It must be applied 30 minutes before you head out, and reapplied every two hours. If you're especially sensitive to sun, wear a hat and lightweight clothes to cover your skin, or just enjoy the shade under an umbrella. Tell me, have you ever suffered from sun poisoning? Photo by Kelly Sue

Watch Out For: Sun Poisoning

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:00:00 PDT

So you've been out in the sun and you wore sunscreen, but unfortunately you forgot to reapply. You ended up with a nasty burn on your face and as you take a closer look, parts of your cheek appear kind of blistery and yellowish in color. What you've got is a case of sun poisoning (also called Photodermatitis, for those who want to impress their friends). Not only does it cause this painful rash, but symptoms also include fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, chills, and headaches. The area may swell and will probably feel like it's on fire.

Sun poisoning is your skin's reaction to UV rays. It's possible to become more sensitive than normal if you use certain meds such as antibiotics, beauty products that are used for acne, or sunscreens that contain PABA. Just like an irritating sunburn, the rash usually results in itchy, peeling skin, but eventually goes away on its own within 10 days. That's good to hear, but there's bad news too. To hear it

read more The more extreme exposure your skin gets to UV rays, the bigger your risk for skin cancer. So you want to prevent sunburns and sun poisoning at all costs. Make sure to avoid long hours of sunlight, especially during 10 am and 3 pm. Of course, slather yourself with broad spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 15 or higher. It must be applied 30 minutes before you head out in the sun, and must be reapplied every two hours. Source

Avoid Sun Poisoning

FitSugar — Mon, 28 May 2007 02:30:00 PDT

When you're out in the sun, which is bound to happen with all this gorgeous warm weather we're having, you've got to be careful not to get sun poisoning, or Photodermatitis, as it is scientifically called. Sun poisoning is a condition that develops when your skin over reacts to UV rays from the sun.

What causes it? Sometimes certain medications like antibiotics, certain skin products such as soap, sunscreens containing PABA, or certain fragrances may cause photosensitivity (increased sensitivity to UV rays). You should also be aware that just plain ol' overexposure to the sun is one of the main causes, so avoid staying out in the sun all day.

Symptoms of sun poisoning are fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, chills, headache, swelling, a burning sensation, a red itchy rash, small blisters, or peeling of the skin. When you're out in the sun for a long time, keep an eye out for these symptoms.

To avoid a skin reaction, stay out of the sun during the brightest sun hours, from noon to 3pm. Remember that just because it's cloudy, doesn't mean you are protected - so always wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 when you are outdoors. Apply it to cool, dry skin 20-30 minutes before you go outside, and reapply it every 2 hours.

If you can stand being hot, you could also wear lightweight long sleeves, pants, and a hat to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Definitely avoid any chemicals that may trigger your reaction.

Fit's Tips: If you think you may have sun poisoning, definitely consult your doctor. If you know you have it, a cool shower or bath can help relieve symptoms. When you get out, lube yourself up with some aloe (I like to keep mine in the fridge for more of a cooling effect). Taking an anti-inflammatory such as aspirin may also reduce swelling, and help with nausea or headache.

Source

Out-of-This-World Facts on the Planets

Kelly Schwarze — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:21:02 PST

Now that years have passed, and we can remove Pluto from our solar system's family of planets without argument, it's time to focus on the eight planetary masses orbiting the Sun. Impress your friends, pub trivia foes, and Neil deGrasse Tyson by learning these galactic facts on Earth's neighbors.

Saturn's moon, Titan, has its own atmosphere, but you wouldn't want to live there, as it's poisonous to breathe.
Jupiter's moon, Lo, is the most volcanically active body in the solar system, covered in sulfurs of all colors.
Surface temperatures on Venus can rise past 800°F. Space probes that landed on the planet were destroyed by the temperatures in just hours!
Earthlings can spot Mercury pass across the face of the Sun 13 times per century. The next "transit" will be in May 2016.
Most of Uranus's 27 moons are named for Shakespearean characters.
An icy and stormy planet, Neptune's winds are nine times stronger than those on Earth.
The Haughton crater in the Canadian High Arctic is thought to have similar terrain as Mars and is the site for much research on the red planet.

Follow the break for more facts on the wild planet worlds of space.

Natural Ways to Repel Bugs and Mosquitoes

Heather Dale — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 02:04:29 PDT

It seems that when you're enjoying the most delectable meal, right as the sun is setting over the lake, a swarm of black flies or mosquitoes decide to join the dinner party and wreak havoc on your fun. When citronella candles and tiki torches don't cut it, it's time to get out the bug spray.

You've probably read about the powerful chemical DEET that is found in most bug sprays. When repellent with DEET is sprayed onto the skin, it's absorbed and eventually enters the bloodstream. With longterm use, DEET can cause insomnia and mood changes and other nasty side effects. According to the EPA, if used as directed, bug sprays containing DEET are not harmful to us, although longterm exposure can be.

Rather than put your health at risk with DEET-filled sprays, here are some nontoxic options that are just as effective.

Gisele Bündchen Clarifies Her Sunscreen Is "Poison" Statement

Jaime Richards — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:43:00 PST

By now, you've likely heard that Gisele Bündchen has taken a lot of flak after recently making an antisunscreen comment, saying, "I cannot put this poison on my skin . . . I do not use anything synthetic." As you can imagine, her words sparked an uproar within the medical community, with Dolival Loao of Brazil's National Cancer Institute noting that sunscreen is beneficial for its ability to prevent cancer. He said, "This is not any poison, when a public person makes a statement like this, it creates confusion."

And now, Gisele has clarified the controversial statement through her publicist, Amber Clapp. Amber tells StyleList, "Gisele would never say not to use sunscreen because she has had family members who have had skin cancer. She simply stated that her all-natural skin-care [Sejaa] line does not have SPF because there is not an all natural SPF available." Instead, Gisele wears sun protection free of PABA, retinyl palmitate, parabens, and oxybenzone, and explained on her blog, "I do use sunblock but also I try my best not to be exposed to the sun when it is too strong."

What do you think? Do Gisele's latest explanations make up for her original remarks or are you more confused than ever?

4 Health Dangers of Summer

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 08:50:00 PDT

Nothing beats the lazy days of Summer, when you're toughest decision is to go to the beach or to hit the pool? I hate to rain on your sunny day, but unfortunately, there are some commonplace health hazards you should watch out for. Here are four things to keep in mind as you enjoy the warmer weather and longer days.

The pool. Even though the water is treated with chemicals, studies show that one in eight public pools contain water borne bacteria such as E. coli and Giardia, that could make you really sick. Do not swallow the pool water, try not to rub your eyes, and shower afterward with hot water and soap.
Undercooked meat and food that's been left out. When going to a friend's barbecue, choosing meat that isn't rare is a good way to avoid salmonella, but keep in mind that color isn't necessarily a good indication. Meat should be cooked to at least 160 degrees, so buy your friend a meat thermometer, so you can all avoid food poisoning. Also beware of potato salad and other perishables that have been left out. In the hot Summer sun, don't eat anything that's been out for more than an hour.

To see what else you should be aware of

Spring Danger: First Exposure to Sun

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:30:01 PDT

I'm definitely feeling Spring fever now that the snow around me is melting and the temperatures are reaching in the 50s. It's inspiring me to exercise outdoors and take walks on my lunch break. If Spring is calling you outside as well, I need to act like a mom here for a sec and tell you to be careful of the sun's rays. In the Winter months, most of us have our skin covered by coats and mittens, and our face is probably the only thing exposed. Hopefully, you've already been wearing a daily moisturizer that contains SPF protection, but when you step out into the Spring sunshine for the first time in less clothing, your skin isn't used to the sun's strong rays. That can spell danger for anyone, especially those with pale or sensitive skin. Sunburn isn't the only thing you need to worry about, so keep reading